In an interview with the Financial Times, Dallas Federal Reserve president Richard Fisher reiterated that the central bank would not begin pulling back until "conditions were right," as they don't want to go from "Wild Turkey to 'Cold Turkey' overnight."

He said that the committee "fully understood" that there would be a significant reaction but warned big players in the financial markets against acting like "feral hogs" and testing the Fed.

The Fed's stimulus program has been a major driver of the bull market, and worries over its longevity will likely keep generating volatility in the months ahead.

The CBOE Market Volatility Index(VIX), a measure of fear, jumped above 21 to its highest level of the year before easing back slightly. And the CNNMoney Fear & Greed Index dropped further into Extreme Fear, clocking in at its lowest level since June 2012.

Credit crunch in China? The People's Bank of China told the country's largest banks Monday to rein in risky loans and improve their balance sheets, a warning that sent a jolt through already unsettled equity markets.

The Shanghai Composite index was hardest hit by the announcement, registering a decline of 5.3%. The Hang Seng in Hong Kong lost nearly 3%. Japan's Nikkei index declined by 1.3%.

China raises fears of another 2008 crisis

The sell-off comes after short-term borrowing costs skyrocketed last week in China, leading to fears about a credit crunch. The rate at which Chinese banks lend to each other overnight hit, which serves as a measure of liquidity in the financial markets, hit a record high above 13% last week before moderating. Another key measure of cash in the banking system -- the 7-day "repo rate" -- peaked at 25%.

Investors are worried that less liquidity in the world's second-largest economy could further slow the shaky global recovery.